diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
index a422a79c27..a2bbf3865d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
@@ -1017,7 +1017,7 @@ def home(self):
         ``packages.yaml`` unknowingly. Query the python executable to
         determine exactly where it is installed.
         """
-        return Prefix(self.config_vars["prefix"])
+        return Prefix(self.config_vars["base"])
 
     def find_library(self, library):
         # Spack installs libraries into lib, except on openSUSE where it installs them